Drug Money: From Dealers to Students to Horse Stalls

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FAYETTEVILLE — Drug Dealers in the Fayetteville area are picking up the tab for a new police department building. Students from Fayetteville Technical Community College took the money, and built a new home for the department's four-legged patrol officers.

Every day Officer Tim Redhair gets his buddy John ready for a day of patrol. Now, he has a nicer place in which to do it.

John and the other mounted patrol horses just moved in to their new 3,500 square foot home, stables built by FTCC students. Nearly all the materials were bought with seized drug money. The police department needed to move its animals to a place with bigger stalls and a pasture, so officials asked the technical students to put their skills to the test on some city property near the police department training center.

Students from carpentry, masonry, plumbing and electrical classes all had a hand in building the stables. They say you just can't find this type of experience in the classroom. Student Brian Bosworth says building the stable was a good learning experience.

With downtown development on the rise, Police Chief Ron Hansen expects the mounted patrol to grow. Now, there is room for it.

It took the students nearly two years to finish the project.
Reporter: Melissa Buscher